Lodders Solicitors has promoted two of its rising stars to partner.
The appointment of Sofia Tayton and Alex Robinson takes the number of partners at the Warwickshire and Gloucestershire law firm to 23.
Both have risen through the ranks of Lodders, from trainee level, through associate to partner status in just 12 years.
Sofia Tayton joined Lodders in October 2001 and was appointed an associate in July 2008. She heads up the care and capacity team, specialising in care funding, mental capacity, Court of Protection and powers of attorney.
She is one of a select few in the UK appointed to the Panel of Deputies of the Office of Public Guardian, and a member and joint regional coordinator of the Warwickshire and Worcestershire Branch of Solicitors for the Elderly.
She said: “I am very pleased to have been appointed a partner at Lodders where I have worked since joining as a trainee in 2001.
“This is a firm that recognises both talent and hard work and is very much forward looking in its approach to training and retaining its staff.”
Alex Robinson started work at Lodders as a secretary in December 2001. Having previously been awarded a Masters degree in Classics at the University of Liverpool, she chose to follow a new career and now 12 years of hard work have paid off.
She became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in October 2007.
She was the first legal executive ever to be promoted to associate at Lodders and has now been appointed a partner.
Her specialist areas include agricultural and rural property transactions, including sales, purchases, auctions and agricultural landlord and tenant matters. She also advises on highways issues, private rights of way and access to land, the property aspects of trusts and estate planning..
She is also a member of the Agricultural Law Association and the Country Land & Business Association.
She said: “Since earning a degree my career has hardly followed the “classic” route, but I am delighted to have been appointed a partner having come through the legal executive channel.
“This demonstrates that Lodders is a firm where you can craft a career for yourself, whatever your starting point.”
Senior partner David Lodder paid tribute to the determination and hard work of both new partners
“Lodders is keen to recognise talent and in appointing Sofia and Alex we are demonstrating that this is a firm where merit is identified and recognised appropriately.
“We are proud to welcome them both into partnership.”